43 C.F.R. Subpart 3271—Utilization Operations: Getting a Permit
Title 43 - Public Lands: Interior
If you want to use Federal land to produce geothermal power, you have to get a site license and construction permit before you even start preparing the site. Send BLM a plan that shows what you want to do and write up a proposed site license agreement that you think is fair and reasonable. We will review it and decide whether or not to give you a permit and license to proceed with work on the site. Until and unless we do, don't even think about it. The lessee, the facility operator, or the unit operator may apply to build a utilization facility. (a) You must: (1) Fully describe your proposed operations in a sundry notice; and, (2) File a bond meeting the requirements of either 43 CFR 3251.15 or 3273.19. See Subparts 3214 and 3215 for additional details on bonding procedures. (b) Do not begin the site investigation or surface disturbing activity until BLM approves your sundry notice and bond. (a) Before constructing pipelines and well field facilities on Federal lands leased for geothermal resources, the lessee, unit operator or facility operator must submit your utilization plan and facility construction permit addressing any pipelines or facilities. Do not start construction of your pipelines or facilities until BLM approves your utilization plan and facility construction permit. (b) Before testing a utilization facility which is not located on Federal lands leased for geothermal resources with Federal geothermal resources, send us a sundry notice which describes the testing schedule and the amount of Federal resources you expect to be delivered to the facility during the testing. Do not start delivering Federal geothermal resources to the facility until we approve your sundry notice. (c) You do not need a BLM permit to construct a facility located on either: (1) Private land; or (2) Lands where the surface is privately owned and BLM has leased the underlying Federal geothermal resources, when the facility will utilize Federal geothermal resources. Before using Federal geothermal resources, the lessee, operator, or facility operator must send us a complete commercial use permit (43 CFR 3274.11). This also applies when you use Federal resources allocated through any form of agreement. Do not start any commercial use operations until BLM approves your commercial use permit.
Title 43: Public Lands: Interior
PART 3200—GEOTHERMAL RESOURCE LEASING
Subpart 3271—Utilization Operations: Getting a Permit
§ 3271.10 What do I need to start preparing a site and building and testing a utilization facility on Federal land leased for geothermal resources?
§ 3271.11 Who may apply for a permit to build a utilization facility?
§ 3271.12 What do I need to start preliminary site investigations which may disturb the surface?
§ 3271.13 What do I need to start building and testing a utilization facility which is not located on Federal lands leased for geothermal resources, but the pipelines and facilities connecting the well field are?
§ 3271.14 How do I get a permit to begin commercial operations?
